Step Into Liquid (Blu-Ray)

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All Rise...

Judge Franck Tabouring tried to step into liquid once, but all he got in return was wet feet.

The Charge

No special effects. No stuntmen. No stereotypes. No other feeling comes
close.

Opening Statement

With Step Into Liquid, documentary filmmaker Dana Brown steps into his
father's shoes and delivers a fascinating look at what it is that really drives
professional and everyday surfers to battle the forces of the oceans and spend
their lives questing for the perfect wave.

Facts of the Case

In this thrilling documentary, Brown interviews both amateur and professional
surfers as he travels the world in search for the best spots to practice the
sport.

The Evidence

I never thought highly of surfing and never even stood on a surfboard myself
(and probably never will), but watching this compelling film helped me better
understand why so many people out there risk their lives day in, day out to ride
the most dangerous waves and be at one with the ocean. Although this documentary
doesn't exactly cover the origins of the sport, it digs a little deeper into the
evolution of surf culture and gives legendary surfers such as Gerry Lopez, Kelly
Slater and Mike Parsons the chance to explain why surfing is such a thrilling,
liberating and above all addictive experience.

On a different note, Brown's film also battles the stereotypes of surfers as
beach bums, presenting enough evidence that most of these people are passionate
athletes and that surfing is to be taken as seriously as professional football
or any other popular sport. Brown cleverly brings up the example of Australia,
where surfing receives just as much attention in the news as tennis or
cricket.

Besides the horde of interesting and informative testimonies from some of
the world's greatest surfers, Step Into Liquid also features breathtaking
footage of courageous surfers trying to conquer the monstrous waves in places
like Hawaii, Tahiti or Ireland. From gorgeous underwater images to highly
impressive helicopter shots, most of the surfing scenes in the movie are quite
simply unique. And while the fantastic footage alone is almost as captivating as
it can get, Brown's enlightening narration and the film's catchy soundtrack
inject it with even more excitement.

One thing I really like about Dana Brown's documentaries is the presence of
a strong human factor. Step Into Liquid is not just a film about surfing,
it's a film about the people who see surfing as a source of their happiness and
ambition. Someone who really adds an emotional touch to the movie is Jesse Brad
Billauer, a paralyzed surfer who decided to continue to surf even though he has
to lie face down on the board. Personal stories like this one distinguish
Brown's flick from documentaries that solely focus on the sport without paying
enough attention to the people who really practice it.

Back when I first saw the film on DVD I was really impressed by the beauty
of the footage and the great quality of the image, but now that I watched it
again on Blu-ray, I'm just blown away. Despite only a few grainy scenes, the
1.85:1 non-anamorphic widescreen presentation boasts a sharp and clean picture
quality throughout, offering viewers yet another stunning high definition
experience. The 7.1 DTS HD Master audio transfer is just as intense, giving
Step Into Liquid an even more realistic touch.

Besides four deleted scenes, a couple of music montages and plenty of
interviews with some of the surfers featured in the film, the bonus material on
this Blu-ray disc includes "Let's Go Surfing," an interesting 13-minute crash
course during which Robert Weaver explains the basics of the sport and what you
have to watch out for before you step into liquid. Also included in the special
features is "Capturing the Wave," a 13-minute featurette about how the movie was
shot and what kind of equipment Brown's crew used to capture the giant waves and
film the surfers up-close.

If you want to learn a little more about the athletes in the movie, I
suggest you check out "Passion for Liquid," during which Dana Brown and some of
the surfers share personal stories about how they got hooked to surfing and what
it is about the sport that keeps them so stoked about it. Rounding out the bonus
material is Brown's informative feature film commentary. While he spends
considerable time discussing the numerous challenges he and his crew encountered
during the complex shooting of the film, he also gives viewers a deeper insight
into the lives of his interviewees and how great it was working with them.

Closing Statement

You don't have to be a passionate surfer to fully enjoy Step Into
Liquid. As long as you're interested in watching extreme sports or learning
more about what drives the people to do what they love to do, Dana Brown's
documentary will certainly not disappoint you. Surfer or not, it's an impressive
and entertaining flick filled with useful information and engrossing
footage.